• Golu Yahana speaks of a secret agony
• Dalugama Studio under water
• Cricket parties in London
• Trilicia finishes acting
• 'Sura Yahana Ginigani' sets the screen aflame
• ' Rathu Aluyama': last creation of Yasapalitha
• NFC to train youth to write for the screen
• Painting show

Golu Yahana speaks of a secret agony

Sumith and Nirmalie are two University undergraduates. They are attached to each other. Both of them leave Campus after completing their studies. Sumith goes to his home in the village while she joins her parents. Sumith helps his father in farm activities until he seeks employment. His sole aim is to help the family and see that his only sister is given in marriage.

On the other side Nirmalie's parents are planning to give their only daughter to Nishantha a rich businessman.

Meanwhile Sumith gets a teaching appointment in the village temple. Nirmalie is pressurised by her parents to marry Nishantha.

Sumith passes out with merit and finds a job as an executive in the private sector. He is boardered in a house found for him by his office mate Jagath. Sometime later Jagath introduces a wealthy woman to Sumith. She is Asanka.

Sumith and Asanka build up a friendship which turns out to be a love affair, The two of them get engrossed in the activities in the city. Sumith hides his past to Asanka and pretends to be an orphan.

Nirmalie now facing her parents pressure appeals to Sumith to save her from being given in marriage to Nishantha.

Unable to avoid her, Sumith agrees to marry Nirmalie. He marries without informing his parents while Nirmalie does not care to get her parents' blessings. The new couple live in a rented house. Even after marriage Sumith carries on his affair with Asanka.

Suranimala a friend of Sumith comes to know his connections with Asanka and advises him to give it up. But Sumith does not listen to him. The story enters the climax as Sumith's father dies. Sumith attends his father's funeral when Asanka arrives in search of him. Asanka meets Nirmalie at the funeral and she comes to know of Sumith's past.

Misunderstandings begin to surface among the three of them. But the drama does not end there. Swarnavahini telecasts 'Golu Yahana' on Saturdays from May 2 at 9. 15 p. m.

Rajitha Rodrigo, Nirosha Herath, Ramani Fonseka, Lionel Wickrema Tissa Udugangamuwa and many more star in 'Golu Yahana' written and directed by Tikiri Ratnayaka.

Dalugama Studio under water

Recent floods have caused considerable damage to the National Film Corporation Studio at Dalugama, NFC sources revealed. The water level in the sound studio has put some sensitive sound equipment out of commission.

However the damage done to other sections of the studio is negligible as flood water had not entered that building. "This is the first instance that flood water entered the studio since its inception in 1971. 'NFC officials disclosed

As the film archives is set in a section of the Government Film Unit (GFU) building at Polhengoda, films preserved in the archives are safe.

Water level in the studio compound have gradually subsided. "Filling land without proper planning in the area is the main cause for the floods. Unauthorised constructions that have come up in many places have blocked the flow of water which has resulted in floods, it was pointed out.

NFC is assessing the damage due to floods. The earlier proposal to have a film training institute to train young film makers at the studio is very unlikely to materalise.

Cricket parties in London

By Sanath Weerasuriya

Gypsies, who released their latest 'World Cup song', took wings last Wednesday to England.

Gypsies will be in action at the Lankan Cricket dance on May 1 at the Grosvenor Hotel in London.

Sri Lankan Cricket team will also scheduled to attend this dance.

'There will be another cricket dance at Harrow Leisure Centre, also in London on May 8. This dance too organised by the Sri Lankan community will be a warm-up for the first match in the World Cup '99'. Sunil said.

Other than these two major events a string of dances, gigs and parties have been organised by various Lan-kan groups just to get into the mood for the World Cup and to boost the morale of the World Champions.

Gypsies will be back in Sri Lanka on May 20.

Gypsies song for World Cup, 'World Cup Challenge' was launched on April 22.

Singer Sri Lanka , who has been sponsoring the Lankan cricket team since 1995, is the main force behind this World Cup song.

'World Cup Challenge' is not just a song. It is an anthem that cheers the team' said Sunil.

World Cup Challenge song is a gift with every Singer audio set purchased.

Trilicia finishes acting

She acted as Anula in Lester James Peries' 'Gamperaliya'as Lucy Nona in 'Giraya' Maname Bisawa in Professor Ediriweera Sarachchandra's 'Maname'.She also played main roles in 'Nari Bena' 'Sinhabahu' and many other dramas.This versatile artiste Trilicia Gunawardena died in the early hours of Tuesday morning was ailing for some time.She was 60 years old.

One of her latest films is Linton Semage's 'Padadaya' which is currently being screened.She has acted in a number of feature films and teleserials under various screen names.

Trilicia Gunawardena shot into fame as a child artiste when she rendered the female voice for'Suratal Nangiye Ape Amma' which is popular even now among children as well as adults.The lyrics for the song was penned by Siri Aiya (U.A.S.Perera) who conducted the weekly Childrens Corner programme on the then Radio Ceylon in the fifties.

Her body was cremated on Thursday evening at the General Cemetery Kanatte amidst a large and representative qathering.where all segments in the film industry were represented.

An honours graduate from the Peradeniya University she later became a lecturer in the same University.She was also a lecturer in the Aesthetic department at Kelaniya University. She was an old girl of Musaeus College Colombo.

She married Professor A.J.Gunawardena who predeceased her recently.

'Sura Yahana Ginigani' sets the screen aflame

By Kumaradasa Wagista

'Sura Yahana Ginigani', (SYG) a film once given the 'X' Certificate by the Public Performances Board (PPB) is to be released shortly after imposing several cuts. SYG is allowed on 'strictly for adults only tag. '

For the first time a local film attempts to discuss lesbianism and its effects on society.

A rich landlady (Veena Jayakody ) lives with her house maid (Kumidini Nilaweera) in a Colombo bungalow. Her tenant couple (Sriyantha Mendis and Sanoja Bibile) live next door. Although the tenant couple is married they have no intention of raising a family early. Their desire is for a planned family after saving money for their future.

Things change when the man secures a job as a security officer in the private sector. The land lady came to know that her tenant friend sleeps all alone when her husband is on night duty.

On one such night she invited her to sleep with her as she is all alone. She agrees and sleeps with the landlady where unnatural tendencies develop among the two. The film has a tragic end.

Meanwhile the housemaid has a torid love affair with a young man (Mahendra Perera) in the area. As the landlady is jealous she does not approve the housemaid's love affair. However they elope.

"SYG is altogether a new subject projected on our silver screen. This theme has been exposed in films in many countries. But latest scientific researchers have found out that lesbianism and homo- sexuality are a biological need among men and women"SYG" producer S. Kanapathipillai said. "In some countries it was an offence to involve in homosexuality. But now vast changes have taken place. "he added

The silent violin player who is not at all worried about what takes place in society is Freddie Silva.

Director Eranga Sen-aratna has directed many teleserials. But this is his debut feature film. "I have introduced a new theme.

For a moment I do not endorse or encourage this trend. But this biological human need has existed for centuries among men and women. While I portray lesbianism in my script the ill effects of this social obstacle is also shown"he said. SYG is written and directed by Eranga Senaratna and photographed by cinematographer G. Nandasena. Other credits include Titus Ranasinghe (Publicity) and Saliya Dias (art direction)The film is scheduled to be released shortly at the Ritz circuit.

' Rathu Aluyama': last creation of Yasapalitha

'Rathu Aluyama', is the last film directed by the late Yasapalitha Nanayakkara. The story is by Sri Lal Devapriya. Ajith Jinadasa, Nadika Gunasakera, Jayalath Manoratna, Dilhani Asokamala, Wimal Kumar de Costa are in the cast. Sarath de Alwis is the music director. Marcelline S Perera is cinematographer and Reginald Bernard is its editor. 'Rathu Aluyama' was released on April 23. Seen in the picture is Jayalath Manoratna being hand- cuffed by an actor who plays the role of a Police Officer.

NFC to train youth to write for the screen

A scheme to train youth in writing for the screen proposed by National Film Corporation (NFC) is scheduled to commence on May 15. The course will be conducted on Saturdays and Sundays in Colombo till the end of August. "We have received about 500 applications from men and women aspiring to follow the screen writing course. We have to select 30 candidates for the first batch. Preference would be given to more deserving ones depending on their aptitudes and educational qualifications"NFC sources said.

Priyankara Vithanachchi will conduct the practical and theory aspects of the course. This course is meant to overcome the scarcity of creative script writers here. One reason for poor quality films recently coming into the market is that they are not based on good scripts written by experienced writers.

The couse will be conducted in two sections. Theory and practicals will be the first part.

Interactions with prominent film directors will be the second part of the course.

Illustrations and films will be made throughout the course. Certificates will be issued on merits gained in writing screen plays.

"We are happy if even a handful of screenplay writers are trained in this course"NFC sources said.

A second batch of trainees will be selected from these applications and the training course for themwill commence in September. This course too will be done on weekends for ten weeks.

Painting show

Chintha Seneviratne holds her third art exhibition, The Dream of Meditation" at Lionel Wendt Art Gallery from May 3rd to 6th.

From her early childhood Chintha had shown a keen interest in painting. She has exhibited her paintings in several international art exhibitions and had won several awards and most certificates in international art competitions including a gold medal.

She has presented astro-paintings among her other paintings and she is the first artist who exhibited space paintings in Sri Lanka. In this contest she says "Normally the human being identifies physical objects by light and colours. Colours which have a broad meaning can be used as a language that can be read and understood. The depths, of the human mind can be touched and awakened by properly used colour combination in painting."

Astro painting is based on space matters which covers a specific area of professional art in Western countries but in Sri Lankan context it is a new phonomena. His or her creative work has no limits other than his or her own knowledge and power of creativity."

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